Despite its electoral promise to continue funding till 2020, the Queensland Government has stripped the Queensland Aids Council of funds totaling $740,000
The Queensland Government attributes 2 reasons for this removal of funds, citing that the AIDs virus or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome had been removed from the states list of notifiable diseases 2 weeks ago as well as the cost for the drug that stopped the spread of the virus having its cost reduced from ‘thousands of dollars’, to about 30 dollars.
Whilst Queensland Health Minister Stephen Miles stated that 2017 had only 12 new cases of the virus, which is a sharp decrease from its numbers in the 80 and 90s, HIV still remains a serious health concern as 18 new cases were reported in the same year.
Queensland Aids Council president Peter Black has stated that whilst the council has lost funding before, the council is not going anywhere and will remain committed to the treatment and wellbeing of all Queenslanders.